Today the Moreland Commission sent the first letters seeking detailed information about how the preparation and response of the New York power utilities to power outages caused by Hurricane Sandy impacted critical infrastructure in the State. The letters were sent to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Port Authority. The Commission is gathering information on activities during the immediate storm recovery as part of its ongoing investigation. A copy of the letters to the MTA and PA are below.
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STATE OF NEW YORK

Co-Chairs
Robert Abrams
Benjamin Lawsky

Moreland Commission
Appointed by
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Executive Director
Regina Calcaterra

November 29, 2012

Patrick J. Foye
Executive Director
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
225 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003

Dear Mr. Foye,

On November 13, 2012, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo established a commission under the Moreland Act (Section 6 of the New York State Executive Law) (“Moreland Commission”) to, among other things, investigate the response, preparation, and management of New York’s power utility companies with respect to several major storms impacting the State, including Hurricanes Sandy and Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee (“Recent Storms”). See Executive Orders 73 and 76.
We understand the Port Authority operates critical infrastructure that was affected by power outages during the Recent Storms. As such, you have first-hand information about the preparation and response of the New York power utilities to the Recent Storms that is critical to the analysis being performed by the Commission. The questions contained in this letter seek information concerning your experiences with the New York power utilities during the Recent Storms. We ask that you review the questions and provide any pertinent information in a format that is convenient for you. The questions are not exhaustive and we encourage you to share any other information that may be important or relevant to the Commission’s investigation.
Your cooperation is vital to the Commission’s efforts to improve the quality of utility services in New York and to ensure that the State is fully prepared for any future storms that may impact the region. As such, we kindly ask that you provide responses to the questions below as soon as you are able, and if at all possible, within seven business days from the date of this letter.
If you have any questions regarding these requests for information please contact Peter Dean, Special Counsel for the Moreland Commission, at (518)-496-8235.

2. What New York power utilities provide electric service to the Port Authority facilities in the State of New York?

3. What were your pre-storm and post-storm expectations of the New York power utilities that serve the Port Authority’s facilities? Did the utilities meet your expectations?

4. Please describe the nature of communications between the Port Authority and the New York power utilities prior to, during, and after Hurricane Sandy up to the point of power restoration. Did the New York power utilities provide you with an internal point of contact, e.g. an account executive, for you to utilize during Hurricane Sandy?

5. Did any of your facilities utilize back-up power generation? If so, what was the New York power utilities’ role in providing, or facilitating the interconnection of, the back-up power generation?

6. Where power outages were experienced, did the New York power utilities provide an Estimated Time of Restoration (ETR)? Was the ETR accurate? How long did the power outage last?

7. Has the Port Authority participated in any pre-storm emergency preparedness training exercises with New York power utilities?

8. How did the preparedness and response efforts by the New York power utilities compare to the New Jersey power utilities that serve the Port Authority?

On November 13, 2012, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo established a commission under the Moreland Act (Section 6 of the New York State Executive Law) (“Moreland Commission”) to, among other things, investigate the response, preparation, and management of New York’s power utility companies with respect to several major storms impacting the State, including Hurricanes Sandy and Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee (“Recent Storms”). See Executive Orders 73 and 76.
We understand the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) operates critical infrastructure that was affected by power outages during the Recent Storms. As such, you have first-hand information about the preparation and response of the New York power utilities to the Recent Storms that is critical to the analysis being performed by the Commission. The questions contained in this letter seek information concerning your experiences with the New York power utilities during the Recent Storms. We ask that you review the questions and provide any pertinent information in a format that is convenient for you. The questions are not exhaustive and we encourage you to share any other information that may be important or relevant to the Commission’s investigation.

Your cooperation is vital to the Commission’s efforts to improve the quality of utility services in New York and to ensure that the State is fully prepared for any future storms that may impact the region. As such, we kindly ask that you provide responses to the questions below as soon as you are able, and if at all possible, within seven business days from the date of this letter.
If you have any questions regarding these requests for information please contact Peter Dean, Special Counsel for the Moreland Commission, at 518-496-8235.

1. Please describe how power outages affect the MTA’s facilities, including the subway system, commuter rail lines, tunnels, and bridges.

2. What New York power utilities provide electric service to the MTA facilities in the State of New York?

3. What were your pre-storm and post-storm expectations of the New York power utilities that serve the MTA’s facilities? Did the utilities meet your expectations?

4. Please describe the nature of communications between the MTA and the New York power utilities prior to, during, and after Hurricane Sandy up to the point of power restoration. Did the New York power utilities provide you with an internal point of contact, e.g. an account executive, for you to utilize during Hurricane Sandy?

5. Did any of your facilities utilize back-up power generation? If so, what was the New York power utilities’ role in providing, or facilitating the interconnection of, the back-up power generation?

6. Where power outages were experienced, did the New York power utilities provide an Estimated Time of Restoration (ETR)? Was the ETR accurate? How long did the power outage last?

7. Has the MTA participated in any pre-storm emergency preparedness training exercises with New York power utilities?